The Battle of Pendalorum

For our regular Tuesday game, on a Monday this week, Phil brought over his Goths and Late Romans for a run out against an army sorted out from my Late Roman collection! Make what sense of that you can is my advice! As ever an annotated photomontage to hopefully give any passing reader a sense of the unfolding action ~

The enemy's Goths on their left flank swept around the outskirts of the village effectively blocking my cavalry wing from getting behind their army's flank!

The Goth archers hurry into the village intent on occupying one of the buildings as a base to fire on any approaching foe.

In the enemy centre a Division of infantry is tasked with advancing to capture the bridge, the second of the Victory objectives for both sides. They are reluctant to advance though early in the action.

On his right wing the enemy has concentrated his cavalry in support of a second infantry Division. 

To win the battle my lads must hold the wooden bridge and capture the village. Heavy Cavalry have advanced to confront the Goths while solid ranks of Heavy Infantry steadily advance on their objectives.

A unit of Heavy Cavalry despatched to hold the bridge make slow progress and block the line of fire for the light artillery defending the crossing.

More infantry cross the stream to deter the advancing enemy, while on my left wing the cavalry Division moves forward slowly. If I can utilise my numerical advantage wisely and the 'dice gods' smile I me my lads will cause havoc in the enemy's rear!

The Goths surge forward in an attempt to catch my Heavy Cavalry as they ford the stream. Thankfully they fall short and fail to reach their objective. On their flank Light Cavalry are skirmishing with my archers on the edge of the woods. Losses are light in this early exchange.

The enemy's advance is tardy in the centre and on his left. My advancing Heavy Infantry come under desultory fire from a small unit of archers. My own archers seemed reluctant to set their feet in the stream!

The violence of the Goths' aggressive charge drives my Heavy Cavalry back across the stream. The Army Command base is very nearly run down!

The 'dice gods' desert me! The archers holding the edge of Pendalorum fire on my Heavy infantry as they muster for an assault. One casualty causes a Morale check with a VI! Of course I throw Snakes' Eyes and they flee!!!

As my lads in the centre organise their dispositions for the defence of the bridge crossing they are unsettled by the Broken Heavy Infantry streaming towards the rear. Time for a quick revision of my plans I fear!

Heavily outnumbered my Heavy Cavalry gloriously resist the hordes to their front, fighting the enemy to a standstill. Morale of the home team soars at this point!

On my right I send more Heavy Cavalry forward skirting the melee with the Goths only to find my advance blocked by a Goth Warband. Meanwhile in the centre a second Heavy Infantry unit has braved Gothic bow fire and attacked the enemy occupying Pendalorum.

The defence of the bridge crossing is looking steady while on the left wing units have reinforced the gallant Heavy Cavalry in their melee. A decisive outcome here would see the enemy's army in grave difficulty. If my lads drive the Goth defenders from Pendalorum my army will hold both Victory objectives!

As the enlarged melee on my left swirls about I move more units forward in anticipation of taking advantage of the anticipated victory and driving the enemy before me.

On my right the Goths have routed one unit of my Heavy Cavalry! By virtue of a Blunder though my Clibanarii arrive at just the right time and place to shore up the line. Those 'dice gods' have not entirely deserted me it seems!

I spoke too soon of course as over on my left two cavalry units have been Broken and my Light Infantry charged by the victorious enemy! 

In the ensuing fight I loose by seven casualties and inevitably break despite a valiant dice throw of 11. It doesn't pay I am learning late in life to take those capricious 'dice gods' for granted at any moment.

As the remnants of my cavalry on the left wing try to reorganise to continue the fight the enemy's Heavy Cavalry sweep forward and catch my Horse Archers. The inevitable result sees my left wing Division Broken and the remnants forced from the field.

My Clibanarii loose the melee with the enemy's Goth Heavy Cavalry, who despite being Shaken survive the Morale check. My lads throw Snakes' Eyes, again, and it's all up for the right wing Division who are Broken too.

The Battle of Pendalorum is over in Turn 6 now my second Division on the right flank mimicked it's fellow on the left flank and Broke! Two Broken Divisions out of four meant the army was Broken too, it's will to carry on the fight evaporated! As ever though with Hail Caesar, a sweeping narrative of a fight, full of twists and turns, with sudden changes of fortune reflecting the uncertainty of war.